Memory training in healthy elderly: a review of the literature

Abstract

This literature review aimed to verify the scientific production on “aging versus memory”, identifying and analyzing international and national studies. Method: A study carried out at the bases:PePSIC, SciELO, LILACS, PsycINFO, and PubMed, over a period of 10 years, being considered studies published between January 2007 and December 2016. Results: 330 studies were found, 33 of which were analyzed after applying the criteria of exclusion, highlighting the issues: beneficial effects of training; lack of maintenance of the positive effects of the training and positive influence of the training in the humor; decreased symptoms of depression and anxiety; association between memory complaints and cognitive deficit, symptoms of depression and anxiety, age, self-esteem, schooling, perception of stress and quality of life and psychological well-being, decline in cognitive function and risk of self-neglect; association between subjective perception of memory and better performance in working memory tasks and semantic memory. In the methodological aspects were emphasized: effects of the retest, use of the MMSE and influence of the environment on the performance of the test. Conclusion: The analysis revealed that there is a great deal of divergence in the results of the studies and a large majority both regarding the beneficial effects of cognitive training in the elderly, and the need to undertake studies in the area.

Keywords

• treino cognitivo
• memória
• idosos saudáveis